Group Motivation

Exercise Group Motivation

As readers of the site know, I run a fitness and weight loss group in Stockport. The members follow a dietary and exercise approach I have developed called The Handy Plan. It is the only group exercise I offer and I have seen first hand the effects that group motivation can have on exercise and dieting.

With any weight loss attempt, you have to change your behaviours – the foods you eat, the choices you make, the activity you take part in. Depending on your actions before, this can be a pretty significant change in your habits – something that typically we struggle with, hence the failure rate of lots of dietary changes and ‘health kicks’.

One of the ways people change for the long term is by using group motivation and support. The most famous of all behaviour change groups are alcoholics anonymous. Fundamental to their success is the group support. When people have support of others who are working towards a common goal, their collective success is better. Put simply, you are more likely to change your behaviour if you surround yourself with others who are doing the same.

There are strategies that you can adopt to help you change your behaviours, but it remains a tough task for some.

If you do struggle with motivation, willpower, or application it is worth looking at why this might be. Are your daily actions to blame? Are your social habits based around unhealthy food and drink? Are your peers not active, healthy types? Identify patterns in your behaviours that make change difficult and address these. I am not saying ditch your friends – far from it. Just identify other, more positive ways to spend some of your time – it may even widen your social circles if you join a gym or similar club!

The Handy Plan is a community – a group of like-minded people who are guided along their weight loss journey by weight loss and fitness professionals. The results are fantastic and members stay even when they get themselves to a weight they are happy with as it keeps them accountable. Plus, the social nature of our sessions mean members become friends, not just participants.

Come along and enjoy exercise and losing weight with the help of the additional group motivation!

If you live in Stockport and are serious about losing weight and improving your fitness, contact me on Steve@Hoylesfitness.com or 07866361964.